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Seaside commission seeks data-driven case to add parks staff
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed commissioning a staffing assessment to support requests for more public-works parks employees and explored reorganizing divisions, volunteer use and certification options.
The Seaside Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 15 discussed a plan to commission a staffing assessment intended to give the city council concrete data to support requests for additional parks and public-works employees.
Public Works Director and City Engineer Thomas Korman said he had asked an on-call landscape architecture firm to prepare a proposal to assess staffing levels across Seaside parks and compare them with similar jurisdictions. "I requested a proposal for them to do basically exactly what you're saying... to take a look at all the parks, do a brief assessment of them, and then... compare the staffing levels as compared to similar cities," Korman said.
Commissioners and members of the public said the commission should present a specific, evidence-based case to the City Council. Commissioner discussion emphasized that general appeals are less likely to succeed than requests tied to data about where additional staff would be stationed and what tasks they would perform.
Korman described how parks maintenance is organized within the Public Works Department: park work is divided across functions including parks, irrigation, fleet, storm drainage, water and sanitation, with parks having the most staff. He said employees are typically hired at a worker I level, can advance to worker II and senior worker roles, and that senior non-rotating positions exist for irrigation and parks. Korman also said one staff member regularly works Saturdays with FOSPA volunteers, which reduces daily staffing capacity during the week.
Commissioners proposed steps the commission could take to strengthen a budget request: commission a short consultant report that benchmarks staffing levels; identify specific parks or functions where added staff would have the most impact; and compile potential grant opportunities that could fund positions or projects. Korman said the on-call firm can also identify grants tied to particular park improvements.
Members of the public urged practical approaches. Juliana Fiala, a resident, asked whether part-time positions or volunteer programs could be part of the solution: "Are there opportunities to get some of the work done by volunteers or perhaps are part time employment an option?" Diane Nielsen, another resident, urged closer coordination with existing volunteers and cited a parks assessment completed roughly 18 months earlier as a resource.
Commissioners discussed internal steps that could increase capacity without immediate hires, including possible reorganization to combine irrigation and parks into a single division, additional in‑house certifications (for example, arborist-related training) and better use of volunteers while recognizing limits on what volunteers can safely perform. Korman cautioned that any reorganization would involve labor‑union discussion.
The commission did not vote on staffing additions at the meeting. Korman said staff will pursue the consultant proposal and return with a report the commission can use to build a targeted case for the City Council.
